Mom accused of leaving child in hot car worked in Goffstown school

Sarah Jordan, the mother who was arrested last week for allegedly leaving her 2-year-old daughter in a hot van, worked for a short time as a substitute teacher in the Goffstown School District.

Brian Balke, acting superintendent, confirmed Jordan had worked for SAU 19 this past spring.“She was an elementary substitute teacher for only 3-1/2 days,” Balke said. “Certainly, safety is our primary responsibility, and we will need to review this as a personnel matter.”

Short-term substitute teachers do not have to be certified to work in the school district, but substitute teachers go through rigorous training, Balke said.

“During the hiring process we evaluate each candidate,” he said. “All of our substitute teachers have been through fingerprinting, background checks, and an extensive orientation and training process. We’re fortunate to have many substitute teachers who are certified teachers.”Jordan declined to comment on working for the district.

Jordan, 25, of Goffstown, was arrested July 16 and charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police say she left a toddler in a hot van in the Hannaford Supermarket parking lot. She was released on personal recognizance.

Police and rescue personnel were called to Hannaford after customers noticed the 2-year-old girl was alone in her car seat. The official temperature in the car was 93 degrees, said Goffstown police Lt. Pierre Pouliot, after the arrest.

Police were able to unlock the van and get the child medical attention. She was treated at the scene and did not require transport to the hospital.

Jordan said she left her daughter sleeping in the car while she went into the grocery story for a few minutes with her 8-year-old daughter. Eleven minutes later, she received a call from Goffstown police telling her to return to her van.

Jordan will be arraigned on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 8:15 a.m., at Goffstown District Court.